Bird Full Envelope Dec 2014

Comment

Comment by stripygoose on May 7, 2015 at 7:00pm

oh my oh my, m gnome you are a parrot-keeping saint. I can't believe Bird could identify your voice form a phone call - that's amazing, but it does make for an intense relationship. My half-siamese cat is quite needy (follows me around, howls, waits for me in the front garden if I go out, tries to swipe me with his paw if he's sitting on the cupboard when I walk past...) but nothing compared to Bird. 

Comment by Minneapolis Gnome on May 6, 2015 at 8:51pm

Hi Stripygoose!  Although I love Bird and his antics are fun to tell stories about, I highly recommend NOT getting a parrot to anyone who might ever consider it.  His “telling on me” is the least of his sins.  Bird has also bitten off chunks of woodwork in my house, bitten and drawn blood from myself and two other people (please don't put fingers in the cage), destroyed my blinds, projectile poops outside of his cage, dismantled the thermostat, keeps pooping down my back when I put him on my shoulder, needs expensive food, expensive toys and a gigantic cage.  He also creates a lot of dust.  The worst thing about him as a parrot, however, is that he is the LOUDEST member of a household which truly appreciates peace, calm and quiet.  He screams, imitates the house alarm and makes a million other very loud noises in succession for very long periods of time non-stop.  I sometimes resort to using sound blocking earplugs just to be able to stay in the same house with him. 

Alas, he’s intelligent, self-aware and deeply emotionally attached.  Last month when I was on vacation he overheard my voice on the phone and got very excited, dancing, blowing me kisses and making our "cuddle noise" (sounds like the prolonged “awwwwwww!” I frequently say when we're cuddling because he's so cute).  So my dear Bird and I will be co-habitating up until I’m about 80 years old (because parrots live 30 to 50 years).  

Comment by stripygoose on May 6, 2015 at 5:47pm

Hello m gnome - so good to hear from you and what a neat story. Makes me almost glad I don't have a bird to inform me of my comments and habits. That said you have one brainy bird there - I'm a fan!

Comment by Minneapolis Gnome on May 6, 2015 at 3:53pm

Bird is great at letting me know what I say in certain situations.  I am often unaware of my habits of speech until he points them out.  He is the reason I now know that I say "Wheww!" after exciting events / stories / bits of news - because he regularly exclaims this at _all_the_right_times_.  Thanks to Bird, I have now had another habit of my own speech pointed out to me as of this morning.   

This morning my phone alarm went off while I was in the living room near Bird.  I have it set to do this every 5 minutes until I turn it off when I leave the house in order to remind me to stay focused on getting ready and not be late to work.   When the phone alarm went off this morning I heard Bird quietly respond in perfect imitation of me, "Damn it.". 

Comment by stripygoose on January 2, 2015 at 9:37pm

I'm imagining BIRD dancing away - priceless!

Comment by Minneapolis Gnome on January 2, 2015 at 4:40pm

BIRD likes all songs about himself, so he wouldn't mind it being shared.  He loves a lot of music, the more fast, upbeat and dance-able the better.  

After putting the thermostat back together, cleaning up the boiling water from the radiators and putting everything back in order, we gathered in a line in front of his cage and began singing and dancing this very simple, one versed song:  "Dustin Jebediah ____-_____, Destruct-O-BIRD!  Destruct-O-BIRD!"  Short songs are easier for him to learn - and he did learn this one.  

He loves it when people sing and dance with him, and he's got pretty good timing when he dances so it's always fun.  

Comment by stripygoose on January 1, 2015 at 3:39pm

I really like the drawing and I really like the story of how it came about. 

Thinking of sharing the song, or would BIRD be against that idea?

Comment by Linda French on December 19, 2014 at 3:42pm

Such a little character.  --Linda

Comment by Minneapolis Gnome on December 19, 2014 at 3:18pm

Hi Linda,

Although he has a PROPER first, middle and last name, he prefers to call himself "BIRD".  Eventually we all gave in and began calling him "BIRD", too.  The only time his proper name is used is in a song we made up about the night he dismantled the thermostat and all the damages and hilarity that ensued.  

Comment by Linda French on December 19, 2014 at 2:46am

What is his name? Such fun.  --Linda

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page